MDA: Young woman won’t let MD stop her or her dreams

Twenty-year-old Gabriela Garbero is on the move again. She’s heading back to the University of Missouri, excited about finally getting her own apartment.

“She’s very independent,” said Gabby’s mom, Kelley Garbero. “A lot more independent than people would give her credit for.”

She’s always been able to look ahead, which is even more impressive when you look back.

Gabriela was born with a neuromuscular disease called Spinal Muscular Atrophy. It was diagnosed when she was a baby after dozens of tests.

“It was two weeks of absolute torture,” said Kelley.

SMA affects the motor neurons of the spinal cord and brain stem, causing muscle weakness. The family says, the Muscular Dystrophy Association was their shoulder to lean on.

“From the very beginning, they were a source of great support,” explained Kelley.

MDA’s message was the only difference between Gabriela and someone else, is that she would need a wheelchair to get around. And the Garbero’s weren’t ones for pity parties. They passed that message on to their daughter.